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By Deng Mangok Ayuel
July 27, 2013 (SSNA) — Dr. Marial is taller in academic with permanent head damage {PhD}, always smart in wording when speaking; tactical like Ronaldo in footballing, marial in colours for success and friendly like a pen with writer. When politics gone astray and bitter last week after the cabinet was sacked, he remained calm and confidence, not because he has a political god-father in the government who can push his boss to reappoint him a minister, but his competency, flexibility and capability – all in politictechnolgy South Sudan are his ecstatic by passion, desire to help the new nation.
He is a laddering leader, political giant who has confidence in his doings and the best of the season. He is fit to be the minister of Foreign Affair or Education, but who can fit his 52-sized shoes of the Ministry of Information and Communication? He is a political heavy weight who boils into 99 degree Celsius in politics.
If I were a journalist working for local radio or TV station in South Sudan, I would have invited Dr. Marial for an interview to the satisfactory of my dismay for the sake of the society. I would have friendly questioned him for lucidity.
Yeah beny Marial, why is it so hard for elected leaders to give feedback to the community who elected them? Are we the loser for democracy? The children of poor people who can’t afford a coin to send them abroad are not taught well due to lack of employed qualified teachers. Does man eats man in our society?
Another most important thing is food. There is no food at all. People are starving because food commodities are too expensive in the markets. Many people are hungry than angry. An angry man is not hungry South Sudan. Most of your colleagues {former ministers} are currently angry for losing ministerial posts. We are angry due to lack of food. Do you see the difference?
In our African traditions, we care for communities and the communities care for us, a word which might has died with Mr. Julius Nyarere of Tanzania. Do our leaders care for their communities? Why did some of our community’s Juba MPs stash CDF portions and remained unquestioned by the chief who approved the money in Juba? Do you wanted to see their names? Oh, I am afraid. They were in Aweil West and East, Gogrial and Jur River – all over South Sudan, maybe! Some of these CDF mongers arrested people last year when questioned over mismanagement of the fund. These CDF cashiers than MPs are confronters and every ready for troubles.
Beny Marial, if an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality, to borrow words from Mr. Chinua Achebe …! Why are opinion writers, journalists intimidated, imprisoned easily? Where is John Penn de Ngong? In Boston, Kenya, Rwanda or Congo …? Why did he run into exile? By the way, I am not writing to support John Penn de Ngong because he has his own interest and ways of doing things. He is a talented writer but seemingly to be in fight with the government through media which is the opposite of my choice and writing. I am for peace.
All in all, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin is a man of people. He is going to be the minister of Information for the Republic of South Sudan tomorrow in the new cabinet. This is not a dream. He is going to make it. He was there and will be there to keep doing what he has been doing for the welfare of the society. Should I say congratulation to him? No, no! It is too early for me to congratulate him but he is the first pilot to land the job in the cabinet. I am waiting to hear his/their names read on SS TV. It is their time. Enjoy and enjoy!
Deng Mangok Ayuel lives in Aweil, South Sudan. He can be reached via [email protected].